Charlotte Parker.
The MFA DE&I Council would like to see an industry where everyone can thrive, feel heard, supported, and safe to do their best work. Let’s meet the Changers who are sharing their own lived experiences to inspire us all to change for the better.
With Euro summer upon us, the rhythm of the industry is shifting. As key players take a break space opens up, and with it, opportunity.
For emerging female leaders, this isn’t just about filling gaps. It’s a chance to lead. To gain momentum, build trust and embrace responsibilities that might come sooner than expected.
This is the moment to back yourself. To stop waiting for permission for the ‘perfect time’ – because growth often comes from being thrown in the deep end and rising to meet the challenge.
With acceleration can come sharp corners. The pace is fast and navigating it as a young woman brings unique challenges, from self-doubt to potentially being underestimated.
Sometimes it feels like I blinked and was managing a client portfolio and a team not far off my own age. Now, I find myself one year into a new chapter living and working on Australian shores. New media landscape; new lessons. And yes, a few more of those pesky corners to navigate.
So, here are my top tips for avoiding the sharp corners as you rise through the ranks.
Reframe female leadership to work for you
Traditional female leadership tropes never fit me. I wasn’t the ‘girl boss’ or the ‘office mum’. So, I created my own lane: ‘the cool aunty’.
She’s confident without being cold. Supportive without being soft. She’s the person you call when something amazing happens or when you need a nudge in the right direction. She’s curious, grounded, and leads with intent.
Youngest in the room? You’ve earnt it!
Being the youngest woman in the room has been a consistent theme in my career. It’s the breeding ground for imposter syndrome, and I’ve known it well. But over time, I’ve learned not to silence that voice, but to reason with it and try to see it for what it is – an opportunity to challenge norms for those to come.
Confidence, for me, doesn’t come naturally. It comes from being prepared. From doing the work, knowing my stuff and showing up ready to contribute. On the days it’s hard to believe I belong, I remind myself: I’ve earned my place.
Find your people
One of the greatest joys of my career has been mentoring rising talent, both officially and unofficially, and finding inspiration from curious minds with a hunger to challenge the status quo.
And just as I’ve mentored others, I’ve tapped into mentors of my own. Sometimes they show up like fate, other times you must deliberately seek them out. Find people who light you up. Who challenge you, back you, and celebrate your wins. These are your people. Keep them close.
For many young women in media, the journey is as much about shedding old (or self-inflicted) narratives as it is about climbing the ladder. Here’s to stepping into the fast lane. And here’s to being ‘the cool aunty’ we all needed on the way up.
Charlotte Parker is Strategy Director at Spark Foundry Australia. She is a proud Kiwi living in Australia, with eight years’ experience in the media industry. She is the lead for Publicis Groupe ANZ’s VivaWomen!, the employee action committee dedicated to inspiring and empowering women. With an Irish mother and a father from Yorkshire, Charlotte is fiercely loyal by nature. She is also a passionate sausage dog enthusiast and an aspiring chef in her spare time.
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